Bunny won’t explore, play, stays in one place

[Haley]

I recently got a mini lop juvenile who is 5 months. She is COMPLETELY docile, calm, likes to be held and loves being pet. She has already licked me many times and chinned once, but I have noticed she likes to sit in one position all day unless to get water food or if I get her out for play/ free time. She basically sits in the exact spot I set her and will stay there seemingly forever, and rarely moves even when I coax her with healthy veggies. She seems mostly unresponsive to sound or when I call her name, or if I hold a treat near her face she won’t seem fazed until it’s actually near her mouth. Is it normal at first for her to be this shy and timid, not really exploring her surroundings or cage or home. Has yet to play with toys but is very gentle and lets me easily clean her bottom when poop sticks or she pees on her tail. She has alfalfa in her cage, pellets she was fed from the breeder, water and a litter box she has yet to learn or really use. Any tips would be fantastic!

[Haley]

Not alfalfa my bad Timothy hay

[BanditCamp]

Is she deaf or blind? Just curious

[ThorBunny]

Does she play, explore and hop around when you take her out of her pen for free time? And do you know what sort of situation she was in before she came to you? I’ve heard of rabbits who were kept in very small enclosures developing a habit of staying still since they are not used to having room

As long as she is otherwise healthy, and gets out of pen exercise, it could be that she just needs more time to adjust to her new surroundings! Is the problem with poop stuck to her butt common? If so she may need an adjustment in her diet, some rabbits are sensitive to certain vegetables.

[vanessa]

Peeing her tail? Does she sit in her litterbox – or does she just not go to her litterbox? Is she peeing where she finds herself sitting?

[tobyluv]

I also wonder if she could have sight and/or hearing problems. It could be that she’s very timid or not used to much space, but she could have some physical problems causing her not to move much or to realize that you have treats for her until she can smell them. Lops can be more prone to deafness. A vet could probably diagnose any sight problems that she has.

If she is having frequent poopy butt, she may be eating too many pellets. At her age you will soon need to limit pellets according to her weight. An adult mini lop would get around 1/4 cup of pellets a day. Make sure that she eats plenty of hay. If she isn’t a good hay eater, you can try orchard grass or some of the other hay varieties.

[vanessa]

Well… each rabbit is different, but deaf/blind bunnies do learn to get around. In a new environment, he might be quite still because he doesn’t know his way around just yet, but my deaf/blind bunny still moved around until he became physically limited in his limbs. By the way – my lop is also completely docile like your describe. I can hold him, cuddle him, flip him over for a 2 hour grooming session, you name it. With his limitations – he can reach his ears to clean them the easiest – while he is lying on his back on my lap. VERY calm. Which makes it super easy to travel with him. He sleeps and eats on my lap in a moving vehicle. He’s been in the cabin of an airplane with me. I think a huge reason for that is being deaf/blind. There is that much less to scare him.

Chitchat aside… I do think it is important to figure out the poopy/pee issue. If he keeps peeing on his tail, he’ll get urine scald. Really quickly. Poopy could be from sitting in his cecotropes (why isn’t he eating them – too rich a diet or can’t reach them) or a bacterial imbalance causing softer stool (change his diet).

[Haley]

I’ve only had to clean her tail from pee once and that’s because she sat in it in her litter box. Otherwise poop sticking to her butt happens every few times, but I am planning on taking her to the vet soon. I questioned myself yesterday if she may be dead or blind but I think if she were she may be blind, she really doesn’t respond to waving food by her eyes or if I am next to her, her smell seems to be guiding her. Also yes when I put her out to play for free time she continues to not really move. Sometimes she will take a few hops around but otherwise isn’t very adventurous yet. I’ve only had her a few days, so she could be just needing time to come out of her shell but I’m just concerned it could be something else. Have been limiting the pellets and mostly feeding her hay and some bell peppers or carrot tops. She loves bell peppers!

[Haley]

She also when I am giving her a little bit of training to come to me (with some healthy treats) will look around as if she does not see the treat. She will get on her hind legs and turn her head around sniffing, and won’t seem to find it until I put it under her nose then guide it away for her to follow.

[vanessa]

Yeah that sounds suspicious… i tap lancelot on the nose for “food is in front of u”, left ear and right ear for “food is left or right”. He learned quickly. Good thing the pee/tail was only once. For the poopy butt id b sure she is eating lots of hay, cut out fruit/sugary starchy treats, veggies, and look at the brand of pellets u r using. And id add benebac for probiotics to help the bacteria balance.

[Rebekah&snowy]

My bunny just hides in dark places her cage is always open and she can come out any time she likes she doesnt seem to ever go kn her cage she just hides under my drawers in my sitting room where it is extra dark she wont communicate with us at all

[vanessa]

Posted By Rebekah&snowy on 5/17/2017 7:08 PM

My bunny just hides in dark places her cage is always open and she can come out any time she likes she doesnt seem to ever go kn her cage she just hides under my drawers in my sitting room where it is extra dark she wont communicate with us at all

That sounds sad. Why don’t you repost this in a new thread – and tell us more about her. Perhaps we might be able to help you with some sugestions. 

[Haley]

Update! Witch Hazel is running around being responsive and a super playful happy lovable bunny. Looks like it just took a little longer to adjust! She does not seem blind either, I think she just didn’t realize that treats were mmm yummy food!!!

[BanditCamp]

m glad about this update, I was fearful that your bunny was somehow maybe blind or deaf. Maybe she just needed a bit longer adjustment period than most bunnies.

[vanessa]

Fantastic 🙂

[LittlePuffyTail]

Glad to hear it

[ThorBunny]

Yay for happy bunnies

[Author]

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